Cellular Network Extender Technology – Awards!

The prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Awards have been recognizing achievements in product design and engineering since 1976. Products entered in this prestigious program are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and members of the media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting edge consumer electronics products across 36 product categories.

For signal boosters to maintain network transparency, at a minimum, two key elements are essential; 1) maintain stability, and 2) maintain signal fidelity.

In the industry, there have been concerns with the stability of signal boosters both from a design and installation standpoint. It is important to eliminate sources of instability in the design, and have detection capability and algorithms in place to squelch any oscillations that could occur from poor installation. CelLynx designs meet both these requirements. CelLynx is conservative in design, and in continuous monitoring.

Stage-by-Stage Design
In addition to basic in-band matching, the paper design of each gain stage contains a stability analysis over a wide operating frequency range ensuring the device is stable up to the point where its gain is negligible. This is done for each stage in the amplifier. During prototype testing, these stability results are confirmed. In addition to room temperature, testing includes temperature extremes. This combination of analysis and prototype testing provides great confidence that the inherent amplifier stages are stable.

The loop gain of the amplifier is a concern since the amplifier design is bi-directional, sharing ports on the inputs and outputs. The operation frequencies are separated using duplexers within the signal booster. These duplexers have very high rejection within the operational band of the duplex frequencies. For example, for the Up-link amplifier chain, the duplexer provides very high rejection in the full Down-link band. Due to the characteristics of these duplexers, the operational bands and frequencies above and below these bands are well controlled. The frequency that is most problematic is the ‘cross-over’ frequency, that is approximately half way between the two operational bands. As shown in the graphic below, this is the area where the combined duplexer filters have the least rejection.

The cross-over performance of a duplexer is characterized in the design phase, and multiple duplexers and band pass (or high and low pass) filters are used to provide the required rejection. During prototyping, the loop gain can be directly measured by removing one component (a blocking capacitor for example) and inserting two RF cables to measure the loop gain directly. This is not practical in production, as it would require additional connectors (cost), and disrupt the standard manufacturing flow. Due to the technological nature of the duplexers, there is manufacturing variation in the performance of the cross-over region, and the design must contain significant margin to ensure high yields in the factory. This is determined from working with the filter suppliers to evaluate electrical variations of multiple manufacturing lots, and distributions within lots. Then, statistical analysis can be performed to determine the optimal number of filters within a design.

Manufacturing provides a controlled environment where external isolation issues (such as improper installation) can be eliminated. This presents an ideal condition to confirm the performance of the cross-over loop gain. A simple test is performed to determine whether the amplifier is capable of full open loop gain in both directions while remaining stable. If any instability is found, gain is reduced, and the firmware is then able to limit the operational gain of this unit to eliminate any chance of a positive loop gain during field operation. If the gain reduction is severe, this unit would be considered a failure, and need to be re-worked or scrapped. This maximum gain parameter will be monitored in production to pro-actively monitor suppliers’ filter performance.

In the installation of a booster amplifier, it is important to maximize the isolation between antennas. Isolation can be reduced due to positioning of antennas or due to close proximity objects causing reflections and antenna pattern changes. A poorly designed booster may oscillate under such degradations in external isolation. CelLynx products limit the usable gain to ensure the devices remain stable.

Since the maximum gain of the product occurs in the desired bands of operation, any antenna isolation issue will cause stability problems within these same bands of operation. In this case, the internal detectors will be able to detect oscillations, just as they are able to measure desired signals.

Initialization
When the signal booster begins operation after a power cycle, the gain of the unit is ramped until a large signal is found, or maximum gain is reached. If a large signal is found, it is assumed to be an oscillation. This is a very conservative approach, since if it is a real signal, the full gain potential of the unit will not be reached. From this gain level found (either max gain, or gain where a power threshold is reached), the operational gain is reduced by a specified value to ensure stability. This ramp process is performed for each of the operational bands in the unit.

Dynamic Changes
During normal operation, the output power of each band is continually monitored. A high value detector reading is possible due to real traffic signals, or from a change in antenna isolation causing a stability problem. There are two main methods to squelch an oscillation, absolute power limiting and oscillation detection limiting.

Absolute Power LimitingIf the output power measured is above a predetermined threshold, the gain is continually reduced until this power level falls below the threshold. Once the threshold is crossed, an additional gain reduction is introduced for margin. If the output power was due to an oscillation, this additional gain reduction will squelch the undesired signal. This method lowers the gain sufficiently to ensure that no oscillation is possible. The drawback is there is no distinction between a desired traffic signal and an oscillation. To that end, the gain and output power for a real traffic signal is reduced more than necessary, and full boost is not available. It would be more desirable to keep the output power close to the linearity capability of the amplifier chain. With this method, the power level of a real signal is reduced and the range of booster performance is limited.

Oscillation Detection
In a similar manner to the above algorithm, if the threshold power is exceeded, the gain of the amplifier is reduced until the threshold is crossed. The difference here is that near threshold, the statistics of the signal are monitored to determine if the signal is a real traffic signal or whether from a potential oscillation.

A real traffic signal will follow the change in gain, thus a 1 dB change in gain should roughlyequal a 1 dB change in power.

If the signal power is due to oscillation, a 1 dB change in gain will result in a large change in power. If a unit is deep into oscillation (gain exceeds isolation by more than a couple dB), the output power is near saturation, and a small gain change does not change power significantly. But if the unit is barely in oscillation, the output power is in the linear region (close to the threshold value) and a small change in gain will likely result in no power detected to a power above threshold. For a lightly oscillating unit, at minimum, the change in output power is significantly larger than a 1:1 scale as for a real traffic signal. Once the signal type (real traffic or undesired oscillation) is determined, the unit can apply the appropriate action; automatic power control around the threshold for a real traffic signal, and a gain step reduction to squelch an oscillation.

This algorithm improves the boost level for high power level traffic signals as no additional gain reduction is required. In addition to these algorithms, the unit will shut down in the event that the gain can not be reduced sufficiently to squelch an oscillation. In the CelLynz 5BARz Road Warrior, both methods of oscillation prevention are utilized. Power for real signals is limited to ensure oscillations can be detected properly, and if/when an oscillation is detected, further gain reduction is induced for margin.

Signal Fidelity
The signal fidelity concept is much more straight forward than stability. Amplifiers, just like phones and base stations, must meet emissions requirements set forth by FCC. In order to maintain output power control, each up and down link channel incorporates a peak power detector to measure power after the last active device. This power level is maintained in the linear region (lower than P-1 dB over temperature). Although the unit is certified by FCC to operate at higher power levels, CelLynx maintains these lower levels for operating margin, as well as ensuring ability to detect oscillations as described above. As an example, CelLynx tested our current Road Warrior amplifier against a competitor’s product. The test signal used is a Down-link waveform, 3GPP Test Model 1, with PAR=11 dB. The test was performed on an up-link Cellular channel. This PAR is extreme for Up-link, but not unexpected when two or more phones are amplified by the booster.

The CelLynx booster maintains this power level as input power is increased, and the peak power level is just below 1 dB compression. The competitor’s output power continues to increase output power by another 2 dB with 5 dB higher input power. The peaks of the waveform are clipped by at least 5 dB.

The CelLynx booster signal fidelity is excellent, and the output spectrum is well within the FCC requirements.

CelLynx designed 5BARz technology to guarantee stability, then added proper firmware to eliminate set-up and environmental problems. CelLynx products substantiate that a cell signal booster can be installed in real-world field applications and remain stable with linear operation. CelLynx products are network compatible by design.

Simple Plug and Play Installation. For consumers this is one of the more exciting features. To set-up, turn on and make use of the Network Extender all the consumer needs to do is PLUG IT IN and TURN IT ON. It really is that easy!

Self Regulating Intelligent Power Management. Again, nothing for the consumer to do here. Our product self regulates how much power is used by the device at any given time depending on the strength of signal or lack thereof

Higher Data Throughput and Much Increased Voice Experience. In simpler term, consumer’s will experience faster upload and download speeds and as well as much increased clarity of sound for voice calls

Low Cost to the consumer / Low cost to the carrier. We are selling the Network Extender to carrier’s around the world who will give the devices away to their consumers at no cost

Low Power Consumption. Once our product is in the consumers home or office they can expect that the device will use only very small amount of power, about that equal to a router that remains plugged into the wall always

No Network Planning Required. Again, our product does not require any planning whatsoever. Take it out of the box, plug it into the wall and turn the switch to “ON.”

Self Sensing & Optimizing Coverage. Further to our no planning or set-up requirement, our product has been developed to find each consumers specific coverage or connectivity problem and optimize that consumers connection, all automatically

Meta

Board of Advisors

Board of Advisors
Finis Conner, for the length of his legendary career has consistently identified and executed winning trends in the lightning fast technology industry. Finnis’ experience in selling, designing and manufacturing hard disk drives played a major role in creating the multi-trillion dollar, global technology market that prior to him was non-existant. Finnis has been the pivotal player in migrating computing from floor towers, desktops, laptop computers and now to your back pocket with smaller an smaller devices, with higher capacity and lower costs. In 1973, Finnis co-founded Shugart Associates, where they produced and sold 8″ floppy and hard (HDD) disc drives. The company was sold to Xerox Corporation in 1977. Not unlike many of the entrepreneurs associated with 5Barz Finnis’ never ending focus on “new market trends” and “consumer needs” have served both us, the consumer and him, the career entrepreneur, very well. In 1979, Finnis correctly recognized the trend to smaller computers and conceived the original 5 1/4″, 5MB Winchester disc drive which led to co-founding Seagate Technology. Many computer manufactures at the time didn’t see the need for that much memory but Conner sought out and later sold Steve Job at Apple Computer, 95% of his first years production. Today, Seagate is the largest drive company in the world with a $12 Billion market capitalization, 50,000 employees and shipping over 50,000,000 drives per quarter. In 1986, Finis saw the eventual migration of computers to even smaller and smaller form factors and developed the 3 1/2″ hard drive. There was little interest at Seagate to develop this small of a drive at the time, so Finnis left Seagate to found Conner Peripherals, which was funded with $35M from Compaq Computer. Hence the 3 ½” Winchester Drive was completed and made available for sale in a rather short period of time Conner Peripherals was an instant success and became the fastest-growing company in U.S. history with Conner leading the growth of the company to $1.4 billion in sales in only its 4th year and $2.7 billion in its 10th year, when he engineered the sale of the company to his former company and then rival, Seagate. Finnis is noted for having nurtured and developed top management teams throughout his entire career in multiple disciplines including, sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution. Under Conner, both Seagate and Conner Peripherals built World Class ISO 9001 high tech manufacturing facilities around the globe, including, California, Singapore, China, Vietnam, Ireland, Scotland and Italy. Over the course of his career, his companies were responsible for creating in excess of 160,000 high quality, high paying technology jobs. Finnis Conner is a visionary student of market trends, a leader in developing market-dominating companies with unmatched financial performance.

Dave Habiger

Board of Advisors
Dave Habiger began his career as a founder of Providence Productions, a media production company. This quickly led to a passion for computer based tools and technologies that were starting to revolutionize media production in the early 90’s. In 1992 Habiger began working with the founding members of Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC), later playing an important role in the company’s IPO. As President and COO he organized and managed a global software development team, later becoming CEO. Sonic enterprise software and technology helped launch multiple media formats and was awarded an Emmy for its contribution to the television industry. As CEO of Sonic, Habiger leveraged his 15-year partnership with the Hollywood studios to help move the industry from DVD distribution to internet delivery of movies and TV shows, establishing a leadership role as one of the largest global providers of premium movies and TV shows via the Web and consumer electronic devices. Since its IPO, Sonic generated over $1 billion dollars in revenue in the digital media category and was named one of Forbes, Fortune and Businesseeek’s Fastest Growing Companies on multiple occasions, ultimately leading to its sale to Rovi Corporation (NASDAQ: ROVI). Habiger later made an investment and took over as CEO of NDS, a leading provider of technology solutions for the digital pay-TV industry. With close to 6,000 employees worldwide, NDS provided the software to enable satellite and cable operators to reach their customers. Shortly after NDS registered for an IPO on the NYSE, the company was acquired by Cisco for $5 billion. In 2008, Habiger was chosen as one of Corporate Leader Magazine’s 40 under 40 business leaders and regularly appears as an industry expert on major media outlets including CNBC, CNN, Fox, The Street.Com and Bloomberg TV. Hollywood Reporter chose him as one of 2010’s Digital Power 50 and in 2011 Habiger was chosen as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Mr. Habiger is a director on numerous public and private boards, including the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, the National Association of Corporate Directors, the Center for Corporate Innovation and the Advisory Board of the University of Chicago Center for Entrepreneurship. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from St. Norbert College and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

Orlando Cueter

Vice President, Business Development LATAM
Orlando Cueter joined 5Barz early on as the company was still developing its patented technology. Orlando has focused the majority of his time in Latin America working closely with the carriers in the region and maintaining their increasing interest in the 5Barz Network Extender. Orlando has maintained many of the critical relationships 5Barz needs in Latin America, especially with the major carriers engineering staff, technical leadership and major decision makers. Orlando is an Industrial Engineer and holds a Masters in Economics from Georgetown University. With over twenty years of business experience, Orlando began his career working at the United Nations in Santiago, Chile – Industry Division. Since then, Orlando has been involved in corporate finance for a diverse number of global businesses.

Samartha Raghava Nagabhushanam

CEO, 5BARz India. COO 5BARz Corporation.
Ex-Managing Director, Kyocera Wireless India Pvt. Ltd. Samartha is a Visionary and Entrepreneur closely associated with Global Telecom Industry over the past two decades. He has lead organizations of 1000+ engineers spanning across 5 countries. His current companies: Aseema is focusing on increasing the enterprise productivity through its fleet of mobile applications and back end analytics to increase the CAGR of Enterprises. HuddleNDeal, provides home entertainment and automation solutions for Indian HNI homes. Samartha was Founder Director and Managing Director of Kyocera Wireless India (KWI), Bangalore, established in the year 2003 as a subsidiary and part of Kyocera Group Companies headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. He established KWI as a profit center and lead the growth from zero to 850+ Engineers in six years. He also sold 2.5+ million Kyocera CDMA phones in India between 2004 – 06. A Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics & Communications), from Mysore University, he has done Advanced Management Program from ISB, Hyderabad and Kellogg School of Management, Chicago. He also has Masters in Philosophy and Religion from MKU, Madurai. He is pursuing his PhD in Philosophy from HUA, Orlando.

Mark Geoghegan

Financial Consultant
Mark has operated as a financial professional for 30 years. A former Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse, Mark, through his operating businesses, has developed a career of guiding developing companies from start up stages to thriving enterprises. He was a hands-on manager at an organization that developed 1,100 franchised outlets internationally within a few years, and was a very active part of a turnaround team in a high tech company that now has a market capitalization of $1.6 billion dollars. He has substantial experience in structuring and listing companies on stock exchanges in various venues in the world and substantive post-listing management experience, including quarterly reporting, annual audited financials, annual reports, budgets, ongoing business plan development, investor relations and management of business development initiatives.

Daniel Bland

Founder / CEO
Daniel is a seasoned entrepreneur who has firmly established himself as a ‘hands-on’ developer of premier and unique technologies. Over the last thirty years he has been well ahead of the technology curve by locating state-of-the-art technology, incubating it, developing it, commercializing it and building a world class team around him to make those technology innovations and advances a reality. Through this process Daniel has mastered the small cap market techniques that have allowed him to raise over $100,000,000 for his various ventures in both domestic and international venues. His development and financing activities over the years have allowed him to build a network of like-minded companies and individuals across the globe from Monaco to Moscow, Vancouver to Bangalore. His success in large part is due to his persistence and focus. One project at a time, Daniel fully immerses himself as an entrepreneurial CEO in the startup stage while selecting a management team to take the technology, the product and the company to the next level. All these skill sets and his thirty years of experience is now fully focused on building 5Barz and its leading-edge products in the most vibrant technology sector in modern times – the Wireless Industry.

Dr. Gil Amelio

Chairman of the Board
An iconic technology executive and investor, Dr. Amelio recently stepped down from the AT&T Board of Directors, a career expanding 18 years, to assume a more hands-on role in executing 5BARz’s accelerated growth strategy as Chairman of the Board, effective February 2013. Throughout a career span of over three decades, Dr. Amelio has led various technology companies, including serving as the CEO and Chairman of Apple Computer, the President, CEO and Chairman of National Semiconductor, and the President of Rockwell Communication Systems, a unit of Rockwell International. Under his leadership, these companies underwent successful transformations that resulted in over $9 billion USD increase in investor value. Dr. Amelio launched his career as a member of the technical staff at Bell Labs’ legendary Murray Hill, NJ campus. He received a Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, and Ph.D. in physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Amelio has been awarded 16 patents and a 17th is pending. He is the co-author of three books, two of which were business best sellers. Dr. Amelio has established a well-documented legacy of having identified and implemented key strategically important emerging technologies leading to significant increases in shareholder value at the companies he led. His broad base of experience, influence in the technology sector and insightful guidance to developing technology companies is a significant asset to organizations with which he is or has been associated.